Category Archives: techniques

Blossom Basket Blouse

Posted on January 4, 2012 | Leave a comment

blossom basket blouse

 

I hope 2012 is off to a good start for all of you.  For us, the new year was kicked off in the midst of chaos rather than the cozy family gathering we had planned for our Christmas #2 celebration.

First our pilot son was called away for a last minute flight to Denver. Then after the bonfire and s’mores, the grandchildren’s plans for a loud welcome to the new year were foiled by 6 year-old Robert’s battle with croup and Laurel’s virus.

Finally, after unsuccessfully trying to soothe his cough with the cold air humidifier, my son-in-law and I left at 2 a.m. and drove 40 minutes each way to Robert’s home to retrieve his croup medicine.   The remaining adults tended to Robert and Laurel. Being on the roads at that time was a little worrisome, but we arrived home safely.

The best part of the new year was that our daughter and her family were here for a whole week.  However, this left me not a free moment as 2 year-old Alastair claimed my undivided attention. I loved every minute of it, but there was no time for blog writing, sewing or picture taking. Consequently…

For Faded Charm’s  White Wednesday, this is a rerun of an earlier post. I hope you find a tidbit or two that interest you.
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Posted in clothing, heirloom sewing, lace tape, ladies, machine embroidery, Madeira applique, techniques, White Wednesday

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Cabin Visit and Friendship Quilt

Posted on December 3, 2011 | 8 comments

quiltpartyall

We’re still in North Carolina enjoying some R&R.  When we arrived the weather was miserable, cold and snowy.  What a difference a day makes! We didn’t see much snow but we did see four deer traipsing across the mountain behind the cabin. Can you see the one who posed for the camera?

 

deer-7D

Look closely at the center of the picture. There were four deer behind the cabin, but this is the only one who lingered long enough for this photo.

 

Even though we came to relax, there are always chores to be done.  Bob cleaned out the gutters and climbed the extension ladder to take down some quilts that needed de-dusting and then fixed the damper.  I spent time putting up  Christmas decorations, brushed the wall quilts, and scrubbed the stone face of the fireplace which had some soot accumulation.  I’d like to know who made this mess by forgetting to open the damper!

 

fireplace1

 

The  souvenir quilt hangs above the hot tub in the cabin. The country colors and down home style fit perfectly in there.

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Posted in quilts, techniques

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Shadow Work Christmas Collar

Posted on November 28, 2011 | 13 comments

Christmas 11 collar whole

 

Good grief!!!!  Less than a month until Christmas and I am just now getting the grandchildren’s holiday outfits together!  I’m sewing in the fast lane now.

 

center

 

The collar for 7-year old Laurel’s burgundy velveteen dress is finished.  Swiss cotton organdy has been tinted with coffee.  The collar pattern is from Sarah Howard Stone’s Basic Yoke Dress.

The collar is lined so that the embroidery stitches will not show and also so that  the effect of the strong burgundy color shadowing through the ivory organdy is diminished.  The lining covers only the spokes, not the insertion.  The contrast of the lace spokes against the dark velveteen is very pleasing.

 

Christmas 11 collar side2

 

The machine embroidered shadow work designs are from Suzanne Hinshaw’s Charming Embellishments collection.  Though the set was marketed for placemats and linens,  the designs are appropriate for many other purposes.

I really choked using metallic thread to outline the holly leaves.  But I thought Laurel would love it and I’m trying to mix a little contemporary in with my old fashioned Nana style.

 

xmas lace scan0001

 

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Posted in girls, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, shadow work by machine, techniques

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Machine Shadow Embroidery-Design and Tutorial Sources

Posted on November 19, 2011 | 8 comments
Work in progress...machine shadow embroidered spoke collar, definitely not-yet-ready-for-prime-time. The fabric is coffee dyed Swiss organdy. The dress will be made of burgundy velveteen.

Work in progress…machine shadow embroidered spoke collar, definitely not-yet-ready-for-prime-time. The fabric is coffee dyed Swiss organdy. The dress will be made of burgundy velveteen.

 

I’m busily working on Christmas outfits for my grandchildren and have started with a shadow work collar for Laurel.  Pictured above, it is fresh out of the embroidery hoop, in need of a good soak to get rid of the blue Dixon lines and the UltraSolvy water soluble stabilizer.  But you get the idea.

 

collar with hand stitched shadow work

collar with hand stitched shadow work

 

Shadow embroidery is one of my favorite needlework techniques.  Several earlier posts feature this technique both by hand and by hooped machine embroidery.

machine shadow embroidered baby pillow

 

As I sat in front of my big Brother Duetta (as opposed to Laurel’s little Brother 300SE), watching it do all the work, I recalled that readers  have commented that they cannot find machine shadow work designs for sale. So I did a little sleuthing before writing this post and located  some sources.

 

LinenGuestantallBrite

 

Suzanne Hinshaw, who developed and patented this technique, no longer sells  them.  However, a few of her collections are still available at AllBrands, including  gorgeous Shadowed Bouquets and Charming Embellishments, which is the source of the designs on the collar. FYI, it is my understanding that when these few sets are gone, there will be no more.

A set of two of Suzanne’s designs for holiday towels (linen) are available at Heirlooms Forever at half price.

Brer Rabbit Designs now has a variety of lovely shadow work designs for sale. This site belongs to Laurie Anderson of Southern Stitches, who regularly contributes to Sew Beautiful magazine.  Everything she makes is beautiful so it’s probably a safe bet to say that her shadow work designs are too.

So for those of you who might like to  try shadow work by embroidery machine, you can purchase designs at these sites.  There is an excellent tutorial at Nancy Zeiman’s site, along with information about her new book with a gorgeous shadow work floral heart design included.

 

Xmas-collar-laceBRITE1

 

I look forward to telling you more about my grandchildren’s Christmas outfits.  There is an interesting story about the spectacular lace for Laurel’s collar and a recipe for dying the organdy to a soft ivory. And I would love to hear about your projects.

What are you making for Christmas?

 

 

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Posted in hand embroidery, machine embroidery, shadow work by machine, techniques

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Rick Rack Smocking at the Beach

Posted on August 26, 2011 | 2 comments
three cousins at the beach

three cousins at the beach

 

Once again I share with you an upclose and personal view of Judy Day’s delightful creations  for her granddaughters. She never makes “a dress.” It’s always a complete ensemble for each of the two girls and their dolls, usually including matching hairbows for all and often coordinating flip flops.

Though the idea for rickrack smocking is not Judy’s original idea, her execution is always original and fabulous.  Enjoy Judy’s chronicle of the dresses.~~~~

 

Kennedy1

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Posted in doll clothing and accessories, girls, Judy Day's creations, Kids Sew, smocking, techniques

Brother Bishop & ME Design

Posted on June 26, 2011 | 64 comments

BroBishall1

Do you have a favorite project with which you are completely satisfied?  This  size 3 bishop dress is one of only a  few that fall in that category for me.    It was a pleasure to make and if I were to do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

 

 

BroBishsmock

 

Made of cotton batiste, the dress and shoulder ruffle are blue while the neck binding, sleeves and Madeira applique’ hem are champagne colored. The smocked sleeves and shoulder ruffle are trimmed with champagne French  lace.

 

BroBishsleeveB

 

Pin stitch, feather stitch, and machine embroidered flowerettes further embellish the sleeves, shoulder ruffle and hem.

 

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Posted in girls, heirloom sewing, machine embroidery, Madeira applique, smocking, techniques

1st Communion Accessories

Posted on May 28, 2011 | 4 comments

CourtneyreadeyBible

 

This is a continuation of the previous post about the exquisite First Communion dress Judy Day made for her granddaughter Courtney. Details of the dress, slip and veil were included  there while this post focuses on the extensive accessories–Bible cover, garment bag, hanger and purse–that make the ensemble  all the more special.  In Judy’s  words:

 

bible

 

My parents, Courtney’s paternal  great grandparents, gave her the First Communion Bible. It was smocked and beaded by my mother, Wanda Stewart,  in  the same diamond pattern as the dress.  The beaded cross on the Bible was formed by sewing the pearl glass beads  in place  after the smocking was completed.  The instructions for the Bible cover can be found in the April, 2007 issue of Creative Needle  magazine.  Continue reading →

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Posted in bags, heirloom sewing, Judy Day's creations, machine embroidery, smocking, techniques

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Hooping Tip

Posted on May 23, 2011 | Leave a comment

I’d like to share with you one of the most helpful machine embroidery tips I have ever come across.  Somewhere it was posted on a sewing list, several years ago, though I can’t recall where. It is best demonstrated in person, but I hope you can figure it out from the pictures shown below.

Many find hooping to be very frustrating because it requires that four pieces to be centered and positioned exactly.   There are four pieces to stack: 

  • 1. outer hoop
  • 2.  stabilizer
  • 3.  fabric
  • 4. inner hoop

For successful embroidery, all four pieces be in perfect alignment.  Here is an easy way to accomplish this.

stabilizer, dishtowel, inner frame, outer frame, double sided tape

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Posted in machine embroidery, techniques

Saved by the slip!

Posted on April 17, 2011 | 3 comments

zSavedbythe slipall

 

 

Thank goodness for this slip.  It was designed for modesty and decency, which is what these undergarments are supposed to provide.  But it has been pressed into service as the remedy for Laurel’s too short Easter dress.

When sewing for a child, accurate and up-to-date measurements are as important as your sewing machine.  I know that.  Then how does it happen that I see this child, on the average, twice a week and never manage to find a few moments to measure her?

How does it happen that once again I put this task on her mother, who doesn’t sew and uses a yard stick for such important calculations as center back length?

 

Easter '10. Note slip ruffle extending below the dress skirt. Saved by the slip version #1.

Easter ’10. Note slip ruffle extending below the dress skirt. Saved by the slip version #1.

 

When my patient and cooperative daughter-in-law answered the call to determine the finished dress length, I was doubtful of  the measurement.  So I added another 1 1/2″ to the length.  But still, the dress is too short. Continue reading →

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Posted in girls, heirloom sewing, Holiday Projects, machine embroidery, techniques

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Lace too wide?

Posted on April 15, 2011 | 4 comments

The slip refused to lie flat and still on the scanner bed.

For  Laurel’s Easter dress three matching heirloom laces were pulled from my stash, two edgings  and an insertion.  The narrow piece, used at the neckline,  is 7/8″ wide,  broader than I prefer but acceptable.

That width on the slip neckline and armscyes seemed excessive because it would be flattened under the dress and might even peek out at the neck.  Rather than choose another lace pattern, I decided to reduce the size of the matching piece.

Now, if it had not been 2 a.m., I would have called Mildred Turner for advice.  It’s likely she can and has narrowed miles of edging by  twitching her nose, balancing the bolt on the machine head and waving a needle trolley in the air.  Remember,  her third book is titled Mimi’s Machine Magic.

Though it’s true that Mildred stays up late (and rises early!  Good grief!), I knew she was out of town visiting her youngest son, Matthew, and his family.   So I didn’t call.  I just had to figure something out on my own. Continue reading →

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Posted in heirloom sewing, machine embroidery, techniques